Overview: 6th Swiss Competitions for Law Students

February to April 2018 in Zurich | Geneva | Lucerne

Train your practical skills. Demonstrate your lawbility!

Registration

We encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible.

Early applications will be treated with priority.

You can benefit of the Swiss Competitions in many ways:

Kick-start your legal career

Get a real-life experience

Train your professional legal language and presentation skills in front of an expert panel

Learn from client consultation and negotiation experts

Get feedback from representatives of renowned law firms and legal inhouse departments

Expand your national and international network

What former participants say about the program:

«… best learning experience in my legal education… »

«I made contacts with law students and legal professionals from all parts of Switzerland.»

«I could learn a lot from the feedback of the experts.»

«… reasonable ground to escape from my textbooks …»

«I was offered an internship in a law firm.»

What are the “Swiss Competitions for Law Students”?

The 6th edition of the Swiss Competitions for Law Students include two programs: Legal Negotiation and Client Counselling

The programs each include a practical skills training seminar preparing the students for the competitions on a national level. The finalists for each of the competitions will be chosen by a jury of experienced legal practitioners at the end of the seminars.

The winners of the national competitions win a private expert training & coaching and will be sponsored to represent Switzerland in the International Law Students Competitions 2018 held at the Maastricht University, Netherlands (Client Consultation Program) and in Cardiff University, Wales (Legal Negotiation Program).

The practical skills training seminars and competitions provide an exciting opportunity for law students to learn, practice and demonstrate negotiation, interviewing and counselling skills in front of an expert jury as well as meeting peers and experienced lawyers from reputable law firms on a national, and for the winners of the competitions on an international level.

All students who participated in the competitions so far started their legal careers very well.

New: Practical Legal Writing Competition

The competition will take place on 23 March 2018 at Lenz & Staehelin and is open to all participants of the Swiss Competitions 2018.

The winners of the Practical Legal Writing Competition will be granted a voucher for their study books.

You can represent Switzerland in International Competitions of Legal Negotiation or Client Consultation

The winners of each competition win a private expert practical skills training & coaching to prepare for the representation of Switzerland in the International Law Students Competitions 2018 at a value of CHF 2,000.

Race of Talents

The “Race of Talents” are a networking event for law firms, lawyers and all participants of the Swiss Competitions.

They take place on 23 February 2018 in Geneva and on 2 March 2018 in Zurich.

All participants of the Swiss Competitions will participate in both “Race of Talents” that allows them to visit the partner law firms and to learn more about the legal profession and legal practice.

Candidates who participate in either of the two competitions commit to participate in both “Race of Talents” events, the practical skills training and if chosen in the competition. The seminar and the competition require candidates to set before the program approximately 10 hours for self-study aside.

Schedule of the Swiss Legal Negotiation Competitions 2018

Race of Talents Events: 23 February 2018, Geneva, and 2 March 2018, Zurich; both events last from about 10.00 – 20.00.

Who is eligible?

Eligible for the programs are all law students currently enrolled at a Swiss University or at the ZHAW School of Management and Law and candidates preparing for the bar exam (not admitted to the bar as per July 2018).

Application Form

To be eligible for the competition the application needs to meet specific formal criteria and to be handed in electronically.

The application is to be drafted in English. It includes the coversheet, a motivation letter, a one page CV and all relevant certificates and diplomas.

Admission

The selection of participants for the training programs will be handled by Lawbility in cooperation with the competition partners.

All applicants will be informed about their admission to the seminars latest by 16 January 2018.

With the letter of acceptance, candidates are admitted to one program (client competition or legal negotiation) and commit to participate in the practical skills training and if admitted in the competition. The seminar and the competition require candidates to set before the program approximately 10 hours for self-study aside.

Language

The programs are held in English.

Cost

The participation is free of charge.

The invitation includes participation in either of the two seminars (Legal Negotiation or Client Consultation), course documentation and participation in one of the competitions. Meals and refreshments will be partly provided during the program.

Personal travel and other personal costs are at the expense of the students.